Frequently Asked Questions
Who would benefit from mental performance consulting?
In short, anyone and everyone. A&O supports athletes ages 11 to 50+ across all levels — recreational, competitive, collegiate, professional, and retired. Natalie specializes in working with injured athletes and high performers, but her practice is intentionally inclusive. Anyone who is motivated to show up, grow their mental performance skills, and continue elevating both on and off the field can benefit from this work.
Do only struggling athletes benefit from working with A&O?
Not at all. We support athletes at their lowest points or at their highest points, looking to get 1% better and anywhere in between. Athletes often work with A&O to refine strengths, prepare for transitions, or build tools that support sustainable excellence.
What do sessions typically look like?
Sessions are 60 minutes on Zoom, designed to be structured, collaborative, and tailored to your goals.
Your first session is all about getting to know you. Natalie will ask questions to understand who you are as an athlete and a person, what brings you in, and what you want to accomplish. Together, you’ll set clear, meaningful goals that guide your work.
Ongoing sessions continue that momentum. Each hour may include:
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Talking through current strengths, challenges, and what’s happening in your sport or life
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Targeted activities or skill‑building exercises
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Strategy development for competition, recovery, or confidence
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“Homework” or reps to practice between sessions so progress continues outside the Zoom room
At a collaboratively chosen point, you’ll check in on your goals, assess progress, and decide together what’s next — whether that’s refining goals, expanding them, or celebrating that you’ve met them. If you want to get a feel for what your sessions could look like, book a free intro call and we’ll walk through it together.
When can I expect Results?
Timelines vary — and that’s completely normal. Your starting point, your goals, and your readiness to engage all shape how quickly you’ll see change. Some athletes come in with a clear, targeted outcome and make meaningful progress within a three‑session package. Others have goals that evolve as they grow in their sport, navigate transitions, or move through injury and recovery. For those athletes, the work may be more ongoing, with steady progress rather than a defined “end point.”
What stays consistent is our approach: We’re intentional about meeting you exactly where you are — in expectations, pace, and financial planning — so we can build an individualized plan that fits your needs and supports sustainable growth. If you’re curious what your timeline might look like, book a free intro call and we’ll map it out together.
Do you treat mental health concerns?
A&O Performance focuses on mental performance, not mental health treatment. Natalie is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), which qualifies her to work with performance‑related skills such as confidence, goal setting, focus, emotional regulation, motivation, and injury‑recovery mindset. Natalie is also completing her doctoral training to become a licensed psychologist. However, A&O Performance is not a mental health provider, and we do not offer psychotherapy or clinical mental health services at this time.
If, during our work together, a mental health concern arises that falls outside the scope of CMPC practice, Natalie will help you identify appropriate referral options and collaborate with licensed providers to ensure you receive comprehensive support. If you are currently struggling with your mental health or are thinking about harming yourself or others, please reach out to someone who can offer immediate support, such as a crisis hotline 988 or a trusted professional.
Do you accept insurance?
No, A&O Performance does not accept insurance.
Our work is highly individualized and performance‑focused, which means sessions aren’t classified as clinical mental health treatment and therefore aren’t eligible for insurance billing. Keeping services private‑pay also allows athletes and performers to access support without diagnoses, restrictions, or limits on the type of work we can do together.